The district's graduation requirements are stricter than the state's and come close to the UC standards, save for a second year of foreign language and a full year of a visual- or performing-arts course, Morris said.

“I think we will see 75 percent or so of the 2010 freshmen graduating with having taken the (UC-required) courses,” he said.

San Diego Unified will begin preparing students for the new standards in middle schools by adding foreign-language courses that could provide high school credit. Officials will also start educating students and parents about the college-prep-course list.

Trustees Katherine Nakamura and John de Beck expressed concerns that the UC requirements might lead to increased dropout rates, overburden already-busy counselors or make it tough for students to pursue vocational education programs.

“Legislation of a curriculum as a ‘one size fits all’ bothers me,” said de Beck, who voted against the plan. “It's not right to force kids into a curriculum when they have career plans.”